Shelf for partition structure



J. H. BRINKER ETAL Filed June 13, 1955 0 T 1 5 m m m e W N y a I J m E" P I I l l I I I I ll W f D 1. an j M I /ll l l l I l 4 N m. a M Q! I J v. w w B a 21 O a Fin I A i ATTORNEYS June 24', 1958- SHELF FOR PARTITION STRUCTURE f r 2,840,243 I V Patented June 24, 1958 SHELF FOR PARTITION STRUQTURE' John H. Brinker, Norwood, and L'eonard A .Ehrhart,

.Cincinnati, Ohio, assign9rs, by mesne assignments, to

The Globe-Wernic'ke Cos, a corporation of Ohio Application June' 1a, 1955, Serial No. 514,844

I '4Claiin's; (Cl.'2 11-135) This invention relates to a shelf structure for use with a partition arrangement such as disclosed in the copending application of Steve G. Budai, Serial No. 243,261, filed August 23,. 1951, now Patent No. 2,746,109.

In said copending application there is disclosed a modularstructurecomprisinga number of partitions and posts by means of cap 11 to the posts 10. These channel members are indicated generally at 14 and they comprise a' channel proper consisting of the web 15 andthe forwardly extending arms 16. Extending laterally from the together with desk units and table units which may be assembled and disassembled without the use of special tools and special skills and it therefore may be rearranged from time to time to suit the requirements of a particular oflice.

When such partition structures are arranged to form L-shaped cubicles or work spaces, it may be desirable to provide shelves in connection therewith and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shelf structure particularly convenient for use with the partition structure above outlined. It is another object of the invention to provide a shelf unit which may be very simply assembled to the partition structure and just as simply removed therefrom without the use of special tools of any kind.

These and other objects of the invention which will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, we accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which we shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a post and half partition member with a glass partition thereabove and showing the shelf.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a channel element, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 showing a modification.

Briefly in the practice of our invention, we secure to the post members between which the shelf is to be arranged, channel elements which are adapted to receive either an insulating board or plywood panel partition or a glass partition and we provide rearward extensions on the shelf unit adapted to engage with the channel elements as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, a typical post is indicated at 10 and it may be provided with the usual cap member 11. Extending between the post members 10, we have shown a partial partition 12 of less height than the posts 10. As disclosed in said copending application, the posts and partitions are made of sheet metal and it will be seen that the partition 12 is constructed to provide a groove 13 in its top edge. Instead of the structure disclosed in said copending application, we provide the channel members shown in Figure 4 and secure them ,arms 16 are the portions 17 and from the ends of these ther'eextend rearwardly the flanges 18. These flanges 18 accept the plate of glass 19. At the bottom the glass plate rests in the groove'13 and is preferablyv supported in a rubber insert 31.

' By reference to Figure 5, it willbe seen that in the event that an insulating panel or fiber board panel 19:: is to'be used instead of glass, the supplementary channel 20 is simply eliminated. In this event, the panel 19a may be pro'vid'edwith a tongue at the bottom of a size to engage in-the groove 13.

In either "event, a strip of inch round rubber is placed in the channel as at 30, and is squashed when the panel, glass or otherwise, is in position, so as to hold the panel firmly against rattling.

The shelf proper indicated at 21 is preferably provided with the channel 22 along the front for stiffening purposes and has a back 23 which is preferably provided at the top with the channel 24, also for stiffening purposes. For further stiffening, a channel 25 may be spot welded along the bottom if desired. Other stiffening means may be provided as at 26. The ends of the shelf 21 and the back wall 23 are flanged as at 21;: and 23a (Fig. 2) and the'end wall members 27 are spot'welded to the flanges 21a and 23a. For appearance sake, the end walls 27 extend below the shelf 21 to the depth of the front channel 22.

From Figure 2 it will be observed that the end walls 27 extend rearwardly beyond the back wall 23 as indicated generally at 27a and it will be clear from Figure 2 that the extension 27a is trapezoidal in that the rearward extent is greater at the bottom than it is at the top. The extension 27a is inwardly flanged as at 27 b.

In assembling the shelf to the partition structure, the flanges 27b are engaged behind the flanges 18 at the top of the post and the shelf is then simply slipped downwardly until the offset 27c rests upon the top of the panel 12. The purpose of the trapezoidal extension will now become apparent. When in position, the shelf, by virtue of its weight, tends to rock in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, and the bottom of the flange 27b bears leftward in Figure 2 against the bottom of the channel portion 16. The top of the flange 27b bears outwardly or toward the right of Figure 2, against the inside of the rearwardly extending flange 18. In thismanner the shelf 21 is maintained in a horizontal position when in place. If it is desired todispose the shelf in a higher position, it is only necessary to insert spacer pieces between the post 10 and the flange 18 to support the offset 27c.

From What has gone before, it will be clear that the shelf can be removed from the partition structure by simply lifting itupwardly so that the flange 27b is telescoped out at the end of the flange 18.

Numerous modifications may of course be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and we, therefore, do not intend to limit ourselves otherwise than as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a partition structure, wherein a partition extends between, and is secured to spaced posts, said partition being of less height than said posts, channel elements erally extending portions butterminating short of the respective faces of said posts and a shelf unit having a rear wall and end walls, said end walls extending reari and extending below said shelf proper to the depth of ward ly beyond said rear wall and having inturned flanges,

said shelf unit being positioned with said inturned flanges engaging behind therearwardly extending flanges ofsaid channel elements, and thebottjoms of the flanges resting on sa'id partition.

2. A structureac'cordingto claim 1, wherein the rear- 7 ward extension of said end walls is trapezoidal in=shape,

being greater at the bottom than at thetop, whereby when said shelf is in place, the bottom of said extension bears inwardly against said channel element and the top of said extension bears outwardly against said rearend walls being spot welded to said last named flanges said front stiffening flange". a

4; A structure accordingto claim 3, wherein the rearward extension of said endwalls is trapezoidal in shape, being greater at the bottom than at the top, whereby when said shelf is in place, the bottom of said extension bears inwardly against said channel element and the top of said extension bears outwardly against said rearwardly extending flange and said shelf is thereby maintained in horizontal positi0n.- n

7 References Cited in thefil eio f this patent L l l ,.UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,395 Stikeman June 18, 1895 1,706,469 Swanson Mar. 26, 1929 1,806,642 Ohnstrand May 26, 1931 2,626,063 Echlin Jan. 20, 1953 2,644,591 McMahan July7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,343 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1910 54,286 Australia July), 1912 615,561 France Oct. 12, 1946 

